Mercury Retrograde Shadow Period: What It Is + How Long It Lasts

Ah, at last, Mercury retrograde is over—or so it seems. While yes, this round of Mercury retrograde did technically end on June 22, we are still in its "shadow period" until July 7. And it just so happens that the shadow period can actually be more scrambled than the retrograde itself, according to the AstroTwins. Here's what to know.

This phase is called stationing, and it describes the time the direct planet (Mercury, in this case) needs to recover the distance that it retreated while in retrograde. "It's a bit like retracing steps," the twins add, and it can last for weeks and even months. We see this "shadow" with the moon phases as well. You might feel the full moon's heightened, semi-chaotic energy in the days leading up to it and after it, for example.

As the twins note, this shadow period, or "retroshade," as they call it, "can be a powerful time for integrating lessons that we learned during the retrograde fog." Just remember, they add, "we may still be integrating the wisdom and [feel] unable to rush ahead with clarity."

Mercury retrograde isn't over until it's really over, and while you may feel things improving on the communication front, there's a good chance you'll still be affected by this shadow period for another week or so. We're nearly there, but it still wouldn't hurt to exercise a little extra caution.